Interchangeable motor-vehicle.



. J. H. VENNERS. INTERCHANGBABLE MOTOR VEHICLE. ABPLIGATION FILED PEB.11,1911.

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Jl H. VENNERS. INTERUHANGBABLB MOTOR VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED 23.11, 1911'.

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J. H. VENNERS. INTERGHANC-EABLB MOTOR VEHICLE. AEPLIcATloH FILED 21:11.11, 1911.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914;.

3 SHEETS-SHEET ll @lllildlllllflllk El. VENN'J'EES, QF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 "W, L.

TJHLLSEAUGH, @E BROKLYN, NEW YORK.

XN'lERCHANGEABLE MOTOR-VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented nlug. il, l'jlela Application filed February lll., 1911. Serial No. 608,03*?.

Taell whom it may concern:

Be it known that L JAMES H. VnNNnns, a citizen of the United States, residingat Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful improvements yin interchangeable Motor- Vehiolesro which the following is a specification.

lt a desideratum to propel vehicles such as drays, wagons, vans and the like by means of motive power derived from a combustion engine ol' the ordinary gasolene type, and in instances where suchrnotor propelled vehicles are excluded from piers, docks and places whe-re inanimable material is stored this invention will permit ot converting the vehicle from motive power to horse drawn power, as herein described.

The present invention provides a ltraction motor which may be quickly coupled to or uncoupled from the horse drawn vehicle to admit of said vehicle being readily adapted to be operated either as a motor vehicle or a horse drawn vehicle.

further purpose of the invention is the provision of a motor conveyance comprising a load carrying frame and a tractor frame,

two wheels supportingv the rear end of the load carrying frame, two wheels supportinga both the rear end of the tractor trame and the front end of the load carrying frame. the axis of said last two mentioned wheels .being revoluble about a vertical axis passingr substantially through the axis of the wheels and being revoluble with respect to the load carrying- :t'raine but not with respect to the tractor frame, one or more steering wheels4 supporting the front of the tractor frame, a motor carried by the tractor frame, means whereby the motorl may be mechanically connected with one of the two wheels supporting the front of the load carrying frame and the rear of.' the tractor frame and disconnected with the other and vice versa, and means whereby the steering wheels may be turned at substantially right' angles to the axis of said last mentioned two wheels whereby 'the tractor 'frame may be placed at substantially right angles to the load carry-- ing frame without Vmaterially moving the load carrying trame.

The invention consists oit' the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claim. Y

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of the specification, Figure l is a side View, showing a traction motor and wagon coupled thereto embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the traction motor detached from the horse drawn vehicle. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the traction motor.

Corresponding` anch-like parts are referred to in the following description, and

indi lated' in all the views ol' the drawings,

by the samel reference characters.

The traction motor in general appearance is not wholly unlike an automobile of the run-about type and has a rear extension l. to under-lap the wagon or horse drawn vehicle to be coupled thereto t'or converting the same into a motor propelled vehicle. The traction motor is adapted to be operated by an engine of the internal combustion type and its steering, wheels 2 are mounted so' as to make a torn of approximately ninety degrees, whereby the traction motor may assume a position substantially at a right angle to the wagon or horse drawn vehicle when the latter is backed to the curb S0 as not to wholly obstruct the thoroughfare on comparatively narrow streets and highways. The framework and particularly the side bars of the@ chassis of the traction motor curve upwardly at their front ends to admit of the steering wheels moving thereunder when making a short curve, thereby admitting o1L- turning the traction motor at a right angle to thewagon or horse drawn vehicle. A counter-shaft is mounted upon the traction motor frame and is driven from the engine by any type of transmission and is provided at its ends with sprocket pinions il, which are connected by means ot sprocket chains 5 with sprocket wheels (i connected with the drive wheels 7. Two clutches 8 are mounted upon the shaft El and admit of throwing` either one of the sprocket pinions 8 out of gear so that the traction motor upon turning the steering wheels to an angle of substantially 90, may be turned at a right angle or nearly so to the vehicle after the same has been backed to the curb either for receiving or discharging a load without nia.- terially moving the lra'me carrying body with respect to the curb.

The drive wheels 7 constitute the front wheels of the wagon or load carrying` frame,

spect to the Wagon but not with respect to lio the tractor, and the vertical axis passes through the wheel axis. The ordinary fifth-- wheel of the vehicle serves as the vertical pivotingarrangement. lThe tractor frame shown in l? i gs. 1 and 2 is adapted to be connected to the wagon by merely removin the pole or thills and using the front Whee s of the wagorias the drive wheels.

As shown in Fig. l the Wheels 7 may be considered as part of the tractor, the front axle of the wagon being removed on attaching the tractor thereto and are provided with sprocket Wheels 6 and When the trac,-

tion motor Vis uncoupled from the axle the sprocket chains 5 are disconnected from the sprocket pinions 3 and may be supported in any manner beneath the body or bed of the wagon so as to` be out of the Way and in coni venient position to be quickly placed in position when the traction motor is again coupled to the vehicle for propelling the same after the pole or thills have been disconnected.

A folding wheel rest 9 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, may be employed and attached to the rear portion of the frame of the traction inotor to support the same When the trac-v tion motor is disconnected from the Wagon or other vehicle having the drive Wheels ap-V plied thereto. The wheel rest 9 may be connected to the traction inotor frame in any manner to admit ot' its folding so as to be out of the Way when the traction motor is coupled to the Wagon. Coupling pins 1'0 are employed for connecting the frame-work ot' the traction motor to the front axle of the wagon.

ifroin the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying draivings, the advantages of the construction and ofthe method of operation will be readily n invention, together with the device which' I now` consider toY be the embodiment thereof, I desire to have; it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that -such changes may be made When desired as are Within the scope of the claim appended hereto.

, Having thus described the invention Whaty is claimed as new, is

A motor conveyance comprising a load carrying frame and a tractor frame, tvvo wheels supporting the rear end of the load carrying frame, tivo Wheels supporting both the rear end of the tractor frame and thefront end of the load carrying frame, the aXis of said last tivo mentioned Wheels being revoliible about a vertical axis passing substantially through the axis of the Wheels and being "revoluble With respect to the load carrying frame but not with respect to the tractor frame, one or more steering Wheels supporting tlie'front of the tractor frame, a motor carried by the tractor frame, means whereby the motor may be mechanically connected with one ofthe two Wheels supporting the front of the loadcarrying frame and the rear of the tractor frame and disnected ioin'tlie other and vice versa, and means whereby the steering Wheels may be turned at substantially right angles to the axis of said last mentioned tivo wheels `whereby the tractor frame may be placed at substantially right angles to the load carrvinv' frame withoutI materially moving the ,in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES H. VENNERS. 

